Constructional element

ABSTRACT

An element for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements in edge-to-edge relationship is disclosed. The element comprises a plurality of margins, with at least one of the margins being an arcuate margin. Each margin comprises at least two projections having a recess therebetween. An end-face of one projection is formed with a protruding hinge-pip and an end-face of the other or another projection is formed with a recessed hinge-socket. The arcuate margin is adapted to mate with a complementary margin of another element with the hinge-pip of each element being urged into the hinge socket of the other element.

INTRODUCTION

[0001] This invention relates to an element for constructing a structureand particularly, but not exclusively, a toy or model structure.

[0002] GB 1378942 discloses planar elements for constructing toy ormodel structures. These elements are polygonal figures and are typicallymoulded from plastics material. In use, a plurality of the elements areconnected in edge-to-edge fashion to form geometric structures.

[0003] The fundamental problem with these elements is that curvedsurfaces are not provided for and arcuate structures cannot beassembled.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided anelement for constructing a structure by detachably connecting aplurality of the elements in edge-to- edge relationship, the elementcomprising a plurality of margins, at least one of the margins being anarcuate margin, each margin being shaped so as to be releasablyconnectible to a margin of another element.

[0006] A preferred feature of the first aspect of the invention is setout in claim 2.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is providedan element for constructing a structure by detachably connecting aplurality of the elements in edge-to-edge relationship, the elementcomprising a plurality of margins, at least one of the margins being anarcuate margin, each margin comprising at least two projections having arecess therebetween, an end-face of one projection being formed with arecessed hinge-socket and an end-face of the other or another projectionbeing formed with a protruding hinge-pip, the arcuate margin beingadapted to mate with a complementary margin of another element with thehinge-pip of each element urged into the hinge socket of the otherelement.

[0008] This is advantageous in that two- and three-dimensional curvedsurfaces and structures can be formed.

[0009] Other preferable and/or more preferable features are set out inclaims 4 to 14.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is providedan element in accordance with the first aspect of the invention incombination with a polygonal element, at least one of the plurality ofmargins of the element being a linear margin, said linear margin beinghingedly and detachably connectable in edge-to-edge relationship with acomplementary linear margin of the polygonal element.

[0011] This advantageously allows structures incorporating strictlypolygonal elements, curved and/or partially curved planar elements, andnon-planar elements to be constructed.

[0012] Preferably, the polygonal element is a planar figure.

[0013] The invention will now be more particularly described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an element,in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention,

[0015]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the element shown in FIG. 1,

[0016]FIG. 3 is a side view along line A-A of the element in FIG. 2,

[0017]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modification of the first embodiment ofthe element, in accordance with the first and second aspects of theinvention

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of theelement, in accordance with the first and second aspects of theinvention,

[0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the secondembodiment of the element, in accordance with the first and secondaspects of the invention, and

[0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of in use modifications to the firstand second embodiments, in accordance with the first and second aspectsof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to the drawings, an element 10, typically moulded fromplastics material, is shown therein. The element 10 comprises aplurality of margins 12. At least one of the margins 12 is an arcuatemargin 12′, and another one of the margins 12 may be a linear margin12″.

[0022] In the examples shown, the margins 12 of the element 10 serve todefine a frame or skeletal figure. However, the element 10 may have asolid, or substantially solid, figure.

[0023] Each of the margins 12 comprises a projection 14 and a recess 16.In addition, each margin 12 further comprises another projection 18 andanother recess 20, formed substantially at opposite ends of the margin12. The end faces 14 a and 14 b of projection 14, and end face 18 a ofprojection 18 are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.

[0024] A hinge-pip 22, typically in the form of a part-sphericalprojection, is integrally formed on the end face 14 a of the projection14, and a complementary hinge-socket 24, typically in the form of apart-spherical recess, is formed in the end face 18 a of the otherprojection 18.

[0025] Of course, the positioning of the hinge-pip 22 and thehinge-socket 24 on the projections 14 and 18 is not limited to theabove-mentioned formation. The hinge-pip 22 and the hinge-socket 24 maybe interchanged, and the hinge-pip 22 and hinge-socket 24 may be formedfacing each other across the recess 16.

[0026] Each margin 12 further comprises urging means, typically in theform of a resiliently flexible tongue 14 c, formed by a slot 14 ddividing the projection 14. Each tongue 14 c has an abutment face 15,which corresponds to the end face 14 b of the projection 14. The degreeof resilience of the tongue 14 c may be varied by varying itsdimensions.

[0027] Obviously, in a modification, the urging means may be associatedwith the projection 18 instead of the projection 14.

[0028] FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, show a first embodiment of theelement 10. In the first embodiment of the invention, the margins 12serve to define a substantially two-dimensional planar figure. Theelement 10 may, for example, take the form of a sector, as shown in FIG.1, or, in a modification, a generally asymptotic form as shown in FIG.4, but is not limited to these forms.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the element 10is shown therein. In the second embodiment of the invention, the margins12 serve to define a three-dimensional non-planar figure. In this case,each arcuate margin 12′ lies or substantially lies in a plane which isdifferent from a plane or planes in which the other margins 12 lie, andeach plane intersects at least one of the other planes at an angle,which may or may not be a right-angle.

[0030]FIG. 5 shows the element 10 having a part-cylindrical figure, and,in a modification, FIG. 6 shows the element 10 having a part-sphericalfigure. However, the second embodiment of the element 10 is not limitedto these figures, and may have, amongst others, a part-conical figure ora part-frusto-conical figure.

[0031]FIG. 7 shows elements 10 having solid figures in use formed into apart-domed structure. Due to the end faces 14 a, 14 b and 18 a of theprojections 14 and 18 of the arcuate margins 12′ being parallel,interconnection can be easily effected between two different non-planarelements, and between non-planar elements and planar elements. As shownin FIG. 7, for example, a part-spherical element 10 can be detachablyconnected in edge-to-edge relationship with another part-sphericalelement 10 along one of its complementary arcuate margins 12′, and witha part-cylindrical element 10 along another one of its complementaryarcuate margins 12′; the part-cylindrical element 10 can beinterconnected with the part-spherical element 10 along one of itsarcuate margins 12′, with a planar element 10 along another one of itsarcuate margins 12′, and with another part-cylindrical element 10 alongone of its linear margins 12″, while leaving its other linear margin 12″available for interconnection with a linear margin 12″ of either afurther planar or non-planar element.

[0032] During the course of such engagement, the projections 14 and 18of the arcuate margins 12′ are engaged with the recesses 16 and 20,respectively, of the complementary arcuate margins 12′. The projections14 and 18 of the linear margins 12″ are engaged with the recesses 16 and20, respectively, of the complementary linear margins 12″. Due to theparallel end faces 14 a, 14 b and 18 a, arcuate margins 12′ of a planarelement 10 and a non-planar element 10, or linear margins 12″ of twoelements 10, to be interconnected can be perpendicularly, orsubstantially perpendicularly, brought into engagement; and arcuatemargins 12′ of two non-planar elements 10, or linear margins 12″ of twoelements 10, to be interconnected can be colinearly, or substantiallycolinearly, brought into engagement.

[0033] The hinge-pip 22 of each in use margin 12 of each element 10 islocated in the corresponding hinge-socket 24 of the margin 12 of theother element, and the corresponding abutment faces 14 d of each elementare aligned and resiliently abut each other due to the urging means ofthe element 10 forcing retention of the hinge-pip 22 in the hinge-socket24. An assembled condition of the elements is thus maintainable.

[0034] In this way, structures comprising planar elements and non-planarelements can be assembled. Also, elements with figures defined only bylinear margins, such as polygonal elements, complementary to the linearmargins 12″ of the present invention may be advantageously incorporatedin structures which include elements with figures defined by at leastone arcuate margin 12′ and one linear margin 12″.

[0035] The embodiments described above are given by way of example only,and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:
 1. An element for constructing a structure bydetachably connecting a plurality of the elements in edge-to-edgerelationship, the element comprising a plurality of margins, at leastone of the margins being an arcuate margin, each margin being shaped soas to be releasably connectable to a margin of another element.
 2. Anelement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each margin comprises at leasttwo projections having a recess therebetween, an end face of oneprojection and an end face of the other or another projection beingformed with a protruding hinge pip or a recessed hinge socket forreleasable connection to another element.
 3. An element for constructinga structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements inedge-to-edge relationship, the element comprising a plurality ofmargins, at least one of the margins being an arcuate margin, eachmargin comprising at least two projections having a recess therebetween,an end-face of one projection being formed with a recessed hinge-socketand an end-face of the other or another projection being formed with aprotruding hinge-pip, the arcuate margin being adapted to mate with acomplementary margin of another element with the hinge-pip of eachelement urged into the hinge socket of the other element.
 4. An elementas claimed in claim 3 , wherein the end-face of one of the projectionsof each margin is an abutment face, the abutment face being adapted toabut a complementary abutment face of another element so as to maintainthe hinge-pip of each element in the hinge-socket of the other element.5. An element as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the said end-faces areparallel to each other.
 6. An element as claimed in claim 3 , whereineach margin further comprises urging means which, in use, allows thehinge-pip of one element to be urged into the hinge-socket of the otherelement.
 7. An element as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the urging meanscomprises a resilient tongue formed by a slot dividing one of theprojections.
 8. An element as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the resilienttongue of the urging means includes the abutment face.
 9. An elementaccording to claim 1 , wherein the margins define a planar figure. 10.An element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the margins define anon-planar figure.
 11. An element as claimed in claim 10 , wherein eacharcuate margin of the non-planar figure lies in a plane which isdifferent from a plane or planes in which the other margins of theplurality of margins lie.
 12. An element as claimed in claim 11 ,wherein each said plane intersects at least one other said plane at anangle.
 13. An element according to claim 1 , wherein the margins definea solid, or substantially solid, figure.
 14. An element according toclaim 1 , wherein the margins define a frame or skeletal figure.
 15. Anelement according to any one of the previous claims in combination witha polygonal element, at least one of the plurality of margins of theelement being a linear margin, said linear margin being hingedly anddetachably connectable with a linear margin of the polygonal element.